[Archived] Utterly Beautiful

[jim mk2]

Strange what you remember : I used to stand on the curved section of the Nuttall Street stand (why wasn't it built in a straight line ?) and I recall vividly on dark afternoons and night matches the constant flickering lights as spectators lit up their Woodbines in the Riverside and the fires of the steam trains going back and forth between Blackburn and Darwen behind the ground.

Going "over the wall" to sit on the wooden bench beside the pitch was a treat, especially when I threw the ball back for (Sir) Keith Newton to take a throw-in. Watching the game at pitch level was fantastic and I remember being right behind the line of a shot from Andy McEvoy that screamed into the far corner to beat Charlton 2-1 circa 1967.

Even better was playing on Ewood in schools cup finals, and winning both times. We were in the home dressing room one year and the away dressing room the next; the home one was quite luxurious for the day, with formica-clad walls, but the away dressing room was little better than a parks ground with pock-marked walls and peeling paint. Ronnie Clayton presented the cups both years. Great days.

[Alan75]

I think that used to happen on a regular basis. I thought the catalyst for the cover was someone doing the same to Peter Osgood who was flicking V's at the crowd as he went for an early bath in a stormer of a match against the Saints.

Osgood virtually caused a riot in that match, when he stamped on John Bailey.

The raw apprentice, virtually still in his nappies had been out pacing the ex England international all through the game. Bailey was playing a blinder and Osgood got very frustrated as the game went on. Now our little curly headed left wing back may have been giving some scouse humour verbal, or had caught Osgoods ankle in tackle but the Southampton forward eventually snapped.

Bailey had gone to ground on the left side towards the Blackburn End, when Osgood stamped on him - so deliberate that everyone even the ref, so the malice of the stamp.

Osgood got sent off and I dont think he ever played for Southampton again after that game.

Rovers won the game 2-1, and Southampton also had Steve Williams sent off.

[MCMC1875]

It was indeed and I think the person who could have written it didn't live to far away from the wall in question but I could be doing him a disservice here.

BURNLEY ******** DIED HERE................4FT HIGH, COULD'NT HAVE BEEN ME THEN

It was a good paint job because it was whitewashed over but by the 1980's the whitewash had faded and the message was still there.

[MCMC1875]

Another good tale from a Daily Telegraph journo who had been looking forward to his first visit to Ewood in the 1980's, not least because he had heard of the legendary hospitality for press and director's guests.

Press had beer, spirits and pies laid on after the match in one of the houses owned by Rovers in Nuttall St.

It was pouring down that day and after the match the journo legged it across Nuttall St and into a front room grabbing an empty armchair in front of the tv and asking for a beer, only to be told by an elderly man in the same room, "I think tha's got t'wrong house lad, the press go next door."

Priceless.

[Billy Castell]

Speaking as a 'glory supporter' who has only been to the ground in its current state, it does show how Jack Walker and the Walker Trust has really redeveloped the whole club. If Ewood Park was still looking like that, we'd have not been a team with European ambitions.

The nearest ground to the old Ewood I've been to is Hull's old ground in 1987. It was a right dump then.

[MCMC1875]

During the latter part of the 79/80 season, the pitch was often referred to as Ewood Beach because there was only grass in the corners.

Later in the 80's we had a home game in May (possibly the last scheduled home game of the season?) against Grimsby after a dry spell (no sprinklers then). We called in the Aqueduct before the game and came out at 2.55 with fans streaming away from the ground. A cloudburst had caused the match to be called off due to waterlogging.

[Mike Graham]

"I remember the back of the Town End Deepdale graffiti"

"Seen any Rovers fans hanging around?!" and a painted noose next to it on the wall".

yep that was in the Lancs Evening Post, the next day me and my mates took our spray paint cans to Deepdale and painted coffins on the walls of their Kop End with PNE Die in the coffin. We then climbed over the back of the Town End and painted the same inside. During the match we had a great time setting off every fire extinguishers we could find. Ah.........the good old days...............

[Howard Gayle RulesOK]

That was great. Thanks for posting.

Looked just like when i first went. Maybe 84 season?

And i saw this after reading a few posts about people moaning that Mcarthy is lazy and Pederson is rubbish. Well, maybe they are and maybe they aren;t but things are worlds away compared to Rovers back then. Now is a good time to be a Rover, thats for sure.

[Rover Down Under]

Oh, that was tearful! Thanks. I will never ever forget the stepped entrance (at the start of the vid). Walking through those the first time was a life defining moment.

Just 2 questions for the oldies:

I noticed the enclosure wasn't there - when was that put in?

That chimney towering over the Darwen End, was that the Crown paints one? Is it still there?

[MCMC1875]

Oh, that was tearful! Thanks. I will never ever forget the stepped entrance (at the start of the vid). Walking through those the first time was a life defining moment.

Just 2 questions for the oldies:

I noticed the enclosure wasn't there - when was that put in?

That chimney towering over the Darwen End, was that the Crown paints one? Is it still there?

The enclosures are there - either side of the tunnel.

The chimney was behind the BBE and a steeplejack painted 'CHAMPIONS' on it in May '95 (pics anyone?) shortly before it was demolished to make way for a car park.

[cletus]

The enclosures are there - either side of the tunnel.

The chimney was behind the BBE and a steeplejack painted 'CHAMPIONS' on it in May '95 (pics anyone?) shortly before it was demolished to make way for a car park.

I have saved some newspapers from the days after we won the title. The chimney "champions" photo is in quite a few of them. If i ever get round to scanning them i`ll post a link

[Ben-2000]

I have no experience of the old Riverside as that was just before I started going, and when I did we mainly sat in the Riverside as it is now. I have however been in the old Blackburn End, Nuttall Street, Blackburn End Enclosure (for the final game before demolition against Pompey - me and my Dad were the last one's to leave too!) and the old Darwen End when watching the 2nd leg play off against Derby on the screen... we later got onto the pitch to watch it after someone opened one of the gates

Although I was young it's great to look back on what I can remember of the old place!

[Cheeky Sidders]

Great to see the old stadium. I remember thinking on my first ever visit to Ewood in 82 (alas don't remember the game) when I was stood in the Nuttall St paddock with all the old men and their flasks how "classy" the Riverside looked. Next match I saw it up close and realised to was a ramshackle shed, but the Nuttall St stand looked really good from there...

Surely the perspex players' tunnel wasn't built until the early 80s?

Who remembers that wretch on the Blackburn End (Frank maybe?) who used to go to the back of the terrace at half time and unleash what I can only call a horse's p1ss down the concrete steps. Within seconds, amid a great muttering of "Urgh, the dirty @#/?!", there would be a great shuffling as people would avoid stepping in the golden cascade.

I also remember the old woman who stood at the corner of the Blackburn End/Riverside who looked a bit like crossdressing disco monster Divine (old dragon!), as well as an old gadgy who always parped on about the cost of pies.

"How much was that pie?"

"82p"

"82? 82! You could have bought the man who made it for 82! Bloody 'ell! 82!"

[yoda]

Great to see the old stadium. I remember thinking on my first ever visit to Ewood in 82 (alas don't remember the game) when I was stood in the Nuttall St paddock with all the old men and their flasks how "classy" the Riverside looked. Next match I saw it up close and realised to was a ramshackle shed, but the Nuttall St stand looked really good from there...

Surely the perspex players' tunnel wasn't built until the early 80s?

Who remembers that wretch on the Blackburn End (Frank maybe?) who used to go to the back of the terrace at half time and unleash what I can only call a horse's p1ss down the concrete steps. Within seconds, amid a great muttering of "Urgh, the dirty @#/?!", there would be a great shuffling as people would avoid stepping in the golden cascade.

I also remember the old woman who stood at the corner of the Blackburn End/Riverside who looked a bit like crossdressing disco monster Divine (old dragon!), as well as an old gadgy who always parped on about the cost of pies.

"How much was that pie?"

"82p"

"82? 82! You could have bought the man who made it for 82! Bloody 'ell! 82!"

You probably mean Birdie, the kind of thing he used to do when he was'nt biting the heads of pidgeons!

[thenodrog]

Nostalgic pap. Does anybody want the old Ewood back? I certainly don't thats for sure. When they kept the boardroom and threw the rest away they did exactly right.

btw the only other memorable bit worth keeping was the old 'Rovers FC' name over the Blackburn End turnstiles. I have a feeling that this is still around somewhere. Dunno if there is any truth in the story but apparently it read 'Blackburn Rovers FC' until the 2nd WW, when government instructed all councils to remove any reference to place names in order to confuse and slow any airborne invasion by the boxheads.

[Friarsnig]

that wretch on the Blackburn End (Frank maybe?)

Would that be 'Farting Frank' you refer to? God, he reeked.

I remember going to Oldham with the Ribble Valley Blues and he was on the coach. On the way back the Police pulled the bus up and got on demanding to know who had bared his buttocks out of the back window. Someone replied "It's OK officer, it was just Frank looking through the window".

[SIMON GARNERS 194]

Theno,when down at Ewood today take a look at the wall that is part of the Jack Walker memorial....yes! its the very one and only

'ROVERS FC'

[Ben-2000]

take a look at the wall that is part of the Jack Walker memorial....yes! its the very one and only

'ROVERS FC'

I wasn't sure if that was a replica.

[Fife Rover]

As I write this now in my study, I am looking at a large framed watercolour painting of the old BBE entrance from Nuttall St. With the turnstiles and the plaque stating "Rovers FC" featuring prominently right there on the golden mean focal point. The painting shows a very good view of Nuttall St, the turnstiles and the steps going up into the ground with the red railings and the end of the Nuttall St stand along with the concrete monstrosities that supported the end of the BBE roof, and under which we all had to walk to gain entry to the terracing. It also shows a good view of the crowd walking down the street towards the ground with lots of Rovers tops in evidence. This picture is entitled "Blackburn End: The Last Match, 8th May, 1993." and is signed by the artist C. Mayor. Does anyone know this artist? Is he a local? I would love to talk to him as I am an amateur artist myself and work in all mediums.

[den]

As I write this now in my study, I am looking at a large framed watercolour painting of the old BBE entrance from Nuttall St. With the turnstiles and the plaque stating "Rovers FC" featuring prominently right there on the golden mean focal point. The painting shows a very good view of Nuttall St, the turnstiles and the steps going up into the ground with the red railings and the end of the Nuttall St stand along with the concrete monstrosities that supported the end of the BBE roof, and under which we all had to walk to gain entry to the terracing. It also shows a good view of the crowd walking down the street towards the ground with lots of Rovers tops in evidence. This picture is entitled "Blackburn End: The Last Match, 8th May, 1993." and is signed by the artist C. Mayor. Does anyone know this artist? Is he a local? I would love to talk to him as I am an amateur artist myself and work in all mediums.

Is THIS the artist, Fife?

[Paul]

I have the painting "Big Match Fever" by T Lingard in the lounge. Does anyone know about this artist. It shows the outside of the old Blackburn End from Nuttall Street. Mine's a print No. 401/500. I presume my wife got it at the club shop.

Anyone recall when it was painted and sold?

[Billinge End Blue]

< that wretch on the Blackburn End (Frank maybe?) >

Must be Smelly Frank! Friarsnig - I too remember him from Valley Blues trips, thick nhs-style gigs, ill fitting brown suit with at least 6 cans of red/black East Lancs Pale Ale always in pockets about his person that he could conjure up ...remember one away trip when someone binned his treasured porn video - he'd brought it along for in-coach viewing - with all the empty cans !

He was distraught!

Guess him and his kind have long since been displaced by Jan and her prawn sarnies...and football is all the better for it

[Fife Rover]

Is THIS the artist, Fife?

Thanks for that link Den. I am guessing that it might be the artist I need on there, and I have traced him/her to Rishton. Unfortunately the actually relevant information is in such infinitessimally small print that I cannot read it and therefore cannot get much further. I will have to try and find another way. Anyway thanks for trying.

[Friarsnig]

Must be Smelly Frank! Friarsnig - I too remember him from Valley Blues trips, thick nhs-style gigs, ill fitting brown suit with at least 6 cans of red/black East Lancs Pale Ale always in pockets about his person that he could conjure up

That's him!

[MCMC1875]

Would that be 'Farting Frank' you refer to? God, he reeked.

I remember going to Oldham with the Ribble Valley Blues and he was on the coach. On the way back the Police pulled the bus up and got on demanding to know who had bared his buttocks out of the back window. Someone replied "It's OK officer, it was just Frank looking through the window".

I was on that coach.

It always picked up at Chatburn, Clitheroe, Whalley, Langho and Brownhill before going to Blackburn Railway Station just to pick Frank up. Don't think anyone else would take him.

Whatever happened to Wimberley?